![]() Throughout 1979, the band developed a loyal following among British hard rock/heavy metal fans and was even initially considered the leaders of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (a status eventually claimed by Iron Maiden). Sales of the EP soared after the track "Getcha Rocks Off" was given extensive airtime by renowned BBC Radio DJ John Peel, considered at the time to be a champion of punk rock and new wave music. By the end of the month Rick Allen, then only 15 years old, had joined the band as its full-time drummer. Frank Noon replaced him for those sessions. In November, just prior to recording sessions for what would be a three-song release known as The Def Leppard EP, Kenning abruptly left the band. According to Elliott, he successfully auditioned for the band by playing Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" in its entirety In January 1978, Steve Clark joined the band. At Kenning's suggestion, the spelling was slightly modified in order to make the name seem less like that of a punk band. The band's initial rehearsals took place at Portland Works, and their first gig was in the dining hall in A Block in Westfield School in Mosborough, Sheffield.Įlliott proposed the name " Deaf Leopard" which was originally a band name he thought of while designing band posters in art class. During his audition it was decided that he was better suited to be the lead singer. Only 18 at the time, Joe Elliott tried out for the band as a guitarist following a chance meeting with Willis after missing a bus in November 1977. The band originally consisted of Willis on guitar, Savage on bass guitar after briefly playing guitar, and Kenning on drums. Rick Savage, Tony Kenning, and Pete Willis, all students at Tapton School in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, formed a band called Atomic Mass in 1977. 70 in "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". 31 in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and ranked No. They are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling over 10 million copies in the U.S. Their 1993 album, Retro Active, contained the acoustic hit song "Two Steps Behind." Their greatest-hits album Vault, released in 1995, featured the UK hit "When Love & Hate Collide".Īs one of the world's best selling music artists, Def Leppard have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and have two albums with RIAA diamond certification, Pyromania, and Hysteria. ![]() charts in 1992, and contained several hits, including "Let's Get Rocked" and "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad". Their next studio album, Adrenalize (the first following the death of guitarist Steve Clark), reached number one in the UK and U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one "Love Bites", alongside "Pour Some Sugar on Me", "Hysteria", "Armageddon It", "Animal", "Rocket", and "Women". The album spawned seven hit singles, including the U.S. and has gone on to sell over 25 million copies worldwide. As of 2009, it has reached beyond the success of Pyromania, having been certified 12× platinum for sales of over 12 million in the U.S. ![]() In 2003, the album ranked number 384 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.ĭef Leppard's fourth album Hysteria, released in 1987, topped the UK and U.S. In the U.S., Pyromania was certified diamond (10× platinum). ![]() The band's next studio album, Pyromania in January 1983, with "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" as the lead singles, turned Def Leppard into a household name. Robert John "Mutt" Lange, who helped them begin to define their style, produced their 1981 album, High 'n' Dry, and the album's standout track "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" became one of the first rock videos played on MTV in 1982. The band's strongest commercial success came between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. This is the band's longest lasting line-up. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (lead and rhythm guitar, backing vocals), and Vivian Campbell (rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals). ![]() Def Leppard is an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement. ![]()
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